Bay Window Vs. Bow Window
Bay and bow window structures allow the outdoors to become part of interior spaces. They are often used as dryer alternatives to a porch or balcony.
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Identification
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Bay windows add dimension to a building. A bay window consists of a picture window flanked by two panes that extrude from the exterior wall of building. A bow window is a variation of the bay that follows a semicircular pattern.
History
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Early bay structure of an English Renaissance castle. Bay windows are thought to originate from large bay structures found in early English Renaissance castles and mansions. Bow windows first appeared in Britain during the early 1700s.
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Time Frame
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Bay and bow structures on a Victorian-style home. Bay windows were popular additions to Victorian-style buildings during the 1870s. Softer bow windows showed up during the Georgian period and became a main feature in American Regency-style homes.
Features
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Bay windows with 90-degree angles. A traditional bay window forms a box or polygonal interior space that uses inside angles of 90, 135 or 150 degrees. Bow window structures consist of four or more paned segments that curve outward in a sweeping arc.
Benefits
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Bow windows frame corner nooks. Bay windows increase the square footage of a room and allow for more ventilation and light. Bow window structures can wrap around buildings to form appealing nooks for master bedrooms, living rooms and dining areas.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit "Bay Windows; Valletta" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: foxypar4 (John Haslam) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "Bannerman Castle Ruins 2" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: cwbuecheler (Chris Buecheler) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "Gingerbread Mansion" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: diaper under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "Old Victorian" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: iLoveButter (Jennifer Dickert) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "Guerrero Street @21st, San Francisco" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Allan Ferguson (Allan Ferguson) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
